Gaping hole in solar energy data revealed after 4-month investigation
SCALED author leads transatlantic investigation alongside Environmental Progress and The Blind Spot
An in-depth investigation, led by SCALED’s C. P. Colum, has revealed a shocking fact about the global photovoltaic industry: first-hand data on the environmental impact of PV production, to a large extent based in a coal-rich region of China, may be conveniently non-existant.
The resulting article is the culmination of a four-month collaboration between Californian research and policy group, Environmental Progress; UK news service, The Blind Spot; and energy analyst, Lea Booth. Leading lights in the global science of life cycle analysis and representatives of inter-governmental agencies were sought out for expert comment.
The investigation confirms that a life cycle analysis association in Switzerland, which maintains what is perhaps the world’s largest database on the impact of renewable energy technology on the environment, has no data on Chinese PV production. The reliability of data collected by inter-governmental organisations is also called into serious question.
The article can be read for free on Environmental Progress’ website, here. The group was founded by best-selling author and noted free-speech advocate, Michael Shellenberger.
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